Mandevilla plant named ‘Sunpara 3242’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Sunpara 3242’, characterized by its upright and vining plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and large light red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNPARA 3242’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunpara 3242’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and vining Mandevilla plants with numerous large attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number 02M11-1, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number MH37-mt2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in October, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunpara 3242’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunpara 3242’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright and vining plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Long flowering period.     -   7. Large light red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have shorter lateral branches         and internodes than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more vining and have longer         internodes than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the Mandevilla ‘Sunparacore’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,959. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Mandevilla differed from plants of ‘Sunparacore’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla had shorter lateral branches         than plants of ‘Sunparacore’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla had shorter internodes than         plants of ‘Sunparacore’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla had smaller leaves than plants         of ‘Sunparacore’.     -   4. Flower petals of plants of the new Mandevilla were narrower         than flower petals of plants of ‘Sunparacore’.     -   5. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Sunparacore’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Sunparacore’ had dark red-colored         flowers.     -   6. Plants of the new Mandevilla had longer peduncles than plants         of ‘Sunparacore’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunpara 3242’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunpara 3242’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in 18-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunpara 3242’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number 02M11-1, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number MH37-mt2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About five to six             weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; light brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and vining plant habit;             vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 100 cm. Diameter:             About 1.9 mm. Internode length: About 2.3 cm. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 4.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Mucronate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 144C.         -   Petiole length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 1.3 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 143A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers arranged in             axillary racemes; flowers face upright to outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about three to eight flowers per             inflorescence.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six             weeks after planting; long flowering period, plants flower             continuously from early summer to late autumn in Japan.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven to ten days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 13.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13.1 cm.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform; flared trumpet, corolla             fused and five-parted; flowers roughly star-shaped.             Diameter: About 7.6 cm. Depth (length): About 6.9 cm. Throat             diameter: About 1.7 cm. Tube length: About 4.7 cm. Tube             diameter, mid-section: About 1.1 cm. Tube diameter, base:             About 3.5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 6.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Lenticular. Color: Close to 53B.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl and fused towards the base into an elongated             tube. Petal lobe length: About 3.5 cm. Petal lobe width:             About 2.6 cm. Petal lobe shape: Obovate. Petal lobe apex:             Cuspidate. Petal lobe margin: Entire. Petal lobe texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to N57A.             Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 58A. Petal             lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to N57B. Petal             lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 53D. Throat:             Towards the petal, close to 53B; towards the base, close to             25A. Tube: Towards the apex, close to 51A; mid-section,             close to 26C; towards the base, close to N34A.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl; calyx, star-shaped. Sepal length: About 1 cm.             Sepal width: About 1.8 mm. Sepal shape: Deltoid. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal base: Truncate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal             color: When developing, upper surface: Close to 145A tinted             with close to 47A. When developing, lower surface: Close to             145B. Fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             145C tinted with close to 47B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.25 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Upright to outwardly.             Color: Close to 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.1 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Upright to outwardly.             Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; filaments fused to corolla; anthers,             connivent. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About             1 cm. Anther color: Close to 8A. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity: Typically one.             Pistil length: About 2.6 cm. Style color: Close to 145D.             Stigma shape: Conical. Stigma color: Close to 145C. Ovary             color: Close to 144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been observed     to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to     about 30° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Sunpara 3242’ as illustrated and described. 